The Cowboys lead the weak NFC East division by one game over the Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) and even if they lose the game, they would still be tied for first place at worst case. The Bears trail the Minnesota Vikings (8-4) by two full games for the sixth and final NFC playoff spot, so a loss for them would all but mathematically eliminate them from playoff contention.
The game should be a close one as neither team has achieved what many fans and so called experts were expecting from them this season. The Cowboys have lost three of their last four games while Bears have done just the opposite in the past four weeks.
As for the rest of the games this weekend, five games stand out as primary matches with big playoff position implications.
The Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) travel to play the New England Patriots (10-2) in a game that features the two teams from last season's AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs have been cruising along this season and have a two-game lead over Oakland in the AFC West while the Patriots have the surprising Buffalo Bills (9-3) breathing down their necks in the AFC East race. The Bills will be hosting the hottest team in the NFL this weekend as the Baltimore Ravens (10-2 and winners of eight straight games) come to town looking to stay on top of the AFC playoff standings.
Buffalo still has a lot of skeptics it seems, so they will look to their stout defense to try and take down the high scoring Baltimore offense, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, who could break Michael Vick's record for rushing yardage by a quarterback in a single season. The Bills offense is led by QB Josh Allen, who has shown steady improvement in his second season as the starter in Buffalo.
The San Francisco 49ers (10-2) play at New Orleans (10-2) after losing to the Ravens last weekend and slipping from the NFC's top spot to the number-five seed. The Saints are now the top dogs in the NFC playoff hunt and would like to continue the momentum they have been building in recent weeks.
The Sunday night game features the Los Angeles Rams (7-5) hosting the Seattle Seahawks (10-2) in a big NFC West battle. The Rams need this game to stay in the thick of the wild card chase while the Seahawks will look to stay on top of the division (they own the tie breaker with the 49ers for now after beating them three weeks ago) and could move into the top spot of the playoff race should they win and the Saints lose their game against San Francisco.
Back in the AFC, the game between the Tennessee Titans (7-5) and Oakland Raiders (6-6) in the famed "Black Hole" in Oakland looms large as neither team can afford a loss at this point in the season. They both trail the Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) for the last two playoff spots and need to stay close to Pittsburgh with only four games left to go.
All of the action this weekend is featured in the capsule previews and the Heftyinfo predictions for Week Fourteen follow.
Dallas (6-6) at Chicago (6-6) - The Bears need this game more than the Cowboys do, but the 'Pokes have been struggling and need to get things right for the December stretch run.
Washington (3-9) at Green Bay (9-3) - Packers roll !
Indianapolis (6-6) at Tampa Bay (5-7) - Bucs Head Coach Bruce Arians used to be the Colts Head Coach on an interim basis and led them to the AFC playoffs . . . so now he would like to see his team win and keep the Colts out of the playoffs.
San Francisco (10-2) at New Orleans (10-2) - This game should go down to the wire . . . 'Niners win a tight one on the road.
Carolina (5-7) at Atlanta (3-9) - This game could go either way. Panthers just fired Coach Ron Rivera in what has become a disastrous season. Falcons have struggled as well all season long.
Detroit (3-8-1) at Minnesota (8-4) - Vikings should win this game, but the Lions always seem to play them tough.
Denver (4-8) at Houston (8-4) - Broncos cannot be taken lightly by the Texans, who are jockeying with Kansas City for the AFC's number-three playoff spot.
Baltimore (10-2) at Buffalo (9-3) - The Bills will be looking to serve notice they are for real, so Lamar Jackson and the Ravens better be ready.
Miami (3-9) at New York Jets (4-8) - Who cares?
Cincinnati (1-11) at Cleveland (5-7) - Browns are angry after falling out of playoff contention. Bengals coming off their first win of the season.
L.A. Chargers (4-8) at Jacksonville (4-8) - Perhaps the AFC's two most disappointing teams this season go at it in this one.
Pittsburgh (7-5) at Arizona (3-8-1) - Can the Steelers keep things going in a positive direction? The Cardinals have lost five in a row and looked awful last week in a blowout loss at home.
Tennessee (7-5) at Oakland (6-6) - The Raiders are looking to right the ship at home against a resurgent Titans team riding on the backs of (running back) Derrick Henry and (QB) Ryan Tannehill.
Kansas City (8-4) at New England (10-2) - Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs still remember last year's bitter playoff defeat against Tom Brady and the Patriots. Toss up in this one.
Seattle (10-2) at L.A. Rams (7-5) - The first place Seahawks will be in for a tough one here as the Rams are a very desperate team at this point in the season.
New York Giants (2-10) at Philadelphia (5-7) - The Monday night game in Philly and the big question is whether the Eagles can avoid another bad loss.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Fourteen . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Chicago over Dallas
GREEN BAY over Washington
Tampa Bay over Indianapolis
San Francisco over New Orleans
Atlanta over Carolina
Minnesota over Detroit
Houston over Denver
Buffalo over Baltimore
N.Y. Jets over Miami
Cleveland over Cincinnati
L.A. Chargers over Jacksonville
Pittsburgh over Arizona
Oakland over Tennessee
New England over Kansas City
L.A. Rams over Seattle
Philadelphia over N.Y. Giants
Last Week's Record - 9-7
SEASON RECORD - 128-63-1
Lock of the Week Record - 12-1
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